In Love with Long Island

Last Nov. after a grueling Sept and October travel schedule, I was assigned a last minute trip to Long Island. To say I was bummed was an understatement. What I wanted to do more than anything was stay at home and never leave, but it is called work, not do whatever you want whenever you want. I dragged my sorry self to Long Island and found that it is my favorite place to train.

Long Island is like an alternate universe resting next to "Real New York." The city signs are written differently than in the rest of the state. For example I drive past a town called Hicksville. (I didn't make that up.) The sign welcoming me to the town should read Hicksville, NY, but it says Hicksville, LI. Its like Long Island has become its own state.

No mater how many times I visit the accent is still funny. One of the teachers asked me, "Would you like me to get you a cup of cawffee, Dawling? The stuff in the lounge is mashugana." I giggled and started to say, "You sound just like coffee talk, with Mike Myers." But I overheard the rest of the teachers talk about dawgs and daughters, and I realized that this is the way that they sound.

The funny thing about going to LI, is I'm the one with the accent. I tried to get a cab to pick me at 99 Shaw Ave, after repeating Shaw several times to the operator, I gave up and spelled Shaw. When she repeated it back to me it sounded like "Shore" Ave.

The very best part of LI is the food. It has ruined me for all other pizza. I know longer can eat pizza outside of NY, or LI.

Next week, I'm off to AZ for a team meeting with all the other Literacy Specialists. We'll discuss our new organizational system. I'm hoping that I will still be assigned my LI schools, as I just said my first "Forget about it," yesterday and I don't want to lose my new accent.

Furry Scurry 2010

Yesterday we had an amazing time at the Furry Scurry. We used to go regularly with our Huskies, but they got too old for the walk. Now we have the good fortune of having healthy dogs who can complete the 2 mile loop.

I was so proud of my little buddy, Jeeves. He can get very protective and bark at just about everyone, but yesterday he was a super trooper and walked like a pro. My Mrs. Beasley had to touch everyone's toes. I've never had a herding dog before, and her nose to toes thing, never grows old.

The best part of the walk was listening to everyone talk about the hip shaking that our dogs do. Their backsides are fairly generous, but they look normal to me since I've had these dogs for a 2 years now. A perfect weather, perfect day, perfect dogs.

At long last

A year ago I was so good about writing this blog, then life got in the way. Now I want to resume my dedication to writing. It was amazing to see what was sooo important a few months ago turn into nothing. Journaling has a way of putting life into perspective. So my/our lives right now...

I'm in the "slow season of work," which means I'm mostly home, although I do have some trips, but it is nothing like the fall. The question, what to do with so much time? The answers; yoga, knitting, walking, friends/family.

I started yoga last year and I love it, but I haven't really committed to it. I would go to class when it fit my schedule. Now I want to make my schedule fit class. That means four days a week. I've met my goal this week. Next week will be a real challenge as I have a 2 day road trip.

Knitting- started knitting this fall with all the travel. I've made too many scarves to count, a killer cute purse and a "first attempt hat." I must finish a granny square project that I started.

Walking- Again walking is/was like yoga. I did it when it fit my schedule. If I want to be healthy it needs to be a priority. 3 years ago I had a blood clot. This means I'm more likely to get another one or have a stroke. All the brain annuerisms that have been on the news are freaking me out. Must take care of myself.


Friends/family - As an introvert I could easily spend all day at home knitting and reading, but I know that is no way to live. I also know that with a traveling job, it is super easy to forget about friends. This may sound like a ridiculous goal to you social butterflies, but for me reaching out to people is a challenge.


The "Big Thing" in our lives right now is the back yard. After 7 years of desperately needing some landscaping, we are finally getting it done. Thanks to all the rain and snow the project that we've waited so long for has been delayed 2 weeks. Why could I tolerate it for 7 years, but the last 2 weeks have been torture. However, they're pouring the concrete today.

If anyone is reading this, get on my case if I don't do at least one update from Long Island, next week.

Photos of cute purse, before pictures of yard, and a muddy stump dog.

I Survived

I did it!!! I"ve successfully survived the vast majority of my trainings. I have one more one day trip to go. It is such a strange feeling to have pretty much no work responsibilities for the next several months. I feel like I should be doing things around the house, but I doubt that too many of them will get done.

Looking back this has been an amazing first year. In the beginning I was so worn out from the constant travel, that I remember crying on a plane flight, because all I wanted to do was stay home. I constantly left things in hotel rooms, phone chargers, computer extension cords, and tons of toothpaste and shampoo. I still don't know how to travel light, and I'm still not sure that I care.

I LOVE coming home. Love it, love it, love it. I'm concerned as to what next year's schedule will bring. I have to do my Trainer Internship which won't count towards my days. I'm ver concerned about adding on more to my schedule.

But right now I just want to take a breath and enjoy some nice lazy days.